Water Sector a Weak link in Cybersecurity
Issue
23 November 2021
Editor
Joseph Agres
Editor in Chief
Amery Smock
Date
11/18/2021
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Analysis
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) revealed in a memo that the cybersecurity of the water sector is a potential weak link in the national infrastructure, which could affect health and human safety, national security, and economic stability [1]. Cybersecurity deficiencies observed in the drinking water and wastewater sectors result in part from structural challenges [2]. The United States has approximately 52,000 drinking water and 16,000 wastewater systems, most of which service small- to medium-sized communities of less than 50,000 residents [3].
As every human and industry in the United States relies on water and water treatment systems. We recommend accountability of automation and cybersecurity systems in the water and water treatment industries. We recommend the sector employ appropriately qualified personnel to oversee these systems. -
Sources
[1] Cybersecurity of Water Sector Emerges as a Weak Link in US National Infrastructure https://industrialcyber.co/article/cybersecurity-of-water-sector-emerges-as-a-weak-link-in-us-national-infrastructure/
[2] Poor Cybersecurity Makes Water a Weak Link in Critical Infrastructure https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2021/11/18/poor-cybersecurity-makes-water-a-weak-link-in-critical-infrastructure/
[3] CISA Water and Wastewater Systems Sector-Specific Plan https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/nipp-ssp-water-2015-508.pdf
Analyst